Bobby Little is an artist and sculptor in Rum Cay in the Bahamas who has spent nearly a quarter of a century turning dead coral, old conch shells, abandoned oil drums, and other trash into art.

Little’s artwork ranges from 20-foot metal sculptures to tiny two-inch carvings, with everything from custom candleholders and countertops to unique jewelry in between.

“There are literally four million conchs that are harvested annually, which leaves four million discarded shells,” said Little. “Each conch is worth maybe $2 to those harvesting, but I can turn that shell into $200 to $500 in sea life art.”

Little saws the discarded conch shells into rough forms and turns them into jewelry shaped like little marlins, sailfish, turtles, and other sea life native to the Bahamas.

“With a proper system in place, conch art can become a cottage industry, where locals can participate and make money if not a living,” said Little, who is willing to provide raw materials and provide instruction. “Imagine, instead of selling jewelry art items in local shops that are Made in China, shops can sell items Made in The Bahamas or Caribbean.

About the Author

About the Author: Emily Tripp is the Publisher and Editor of MarineScienceToday.com. She holds marine science and biology degrees from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a Master of Advanced Studies degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. When she's not writing about marine science, she's probably running around outside or playing with her dog. More from this author.

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